Free movement of professionals - European Commission
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Free movement of professionals

Professionals in the EU can move across borders and practice their occupation or provide services abroad. These webpages provide practical information on EU legislation governing the recognition of professional experience in the EU.

European Professional Card
The European professional card (EPC) is available from 18 January 2016 for five professions (general care nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, real estate agents and mountain guides). It might be extended to other professions in the future.
Database of regulated professions
In every EU country, there are some professions that are regulated. To make it easier for EU citizens to find information about regulated professions, the European Commission set up a database on professional access requirements across the EU.

Policy developments

The system of recognition of professional qualifications in the EU is governed by Directive 2005/36/EC, recently amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. The directive provides a modern EU system of recognition of professional experience and promotes automatic recognition of professional experience across the EU.

In May 2020 the Commission published a report on the implementation of certain new elements introduced by Directive 2013/55/EU and an accompanying staff working document.

Other policy developments 

Recognition of professional qualifications in practice

In practice, the recognition of professional qualifications laid down in Directive 2005/36/EC enables the free movement of professionals such as doctors or architects within the EU. Other professions, such as lawyers or sailors, fall under the scope of different legislation.

The recognition of professional experience in practice

The European Professional Card

In January 2016, the Commission introduced a new, EU-wide digital procedure for the recognition of professional qualifications – the European Professional Card (EPC). The procedure, currently available for general care nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, real estate agents and mountain guides, makes it easier for Europeans to work where their professional skills are needed. The EPC contributes to the objective of making the Single Market a reality in practice.

Transparency and mutual evaluation of regulated professions

To clarify the status of regulated professions in the EU, the European Commission conducted a transparency and a mutual evaluation exercise.

Transparency and mutual evaluation

Database of regulated professions

The database of regulated professions contains information on regulated professions, statistics on migrating professionals, contact points and national authorities in EU countries, EEA countries, the UK and Switzerland.

Economic studies

The Commission contracted an independent study to provide more insight into the relationship between professional regulation and service quality. In 6 case studies researchers traced impact of regulatory variations on a wide range of quality indicators. The studies contribute to the development of empirical research methods and strategies to analyse this complex relationship.

Study: Effects of regulation on service quality

The Commission contracted several independent economic case studies, conducted at country level, to analyse the effects of reforms of regulatory requirements to access professions. The results of these studies demonstrate that, for the cases analysed, less restrictive regulation can have a positive impact on the labour market.

Six case studies on the economic effects of reforms of regulated professions

An independent study to assess the prevalence and labour market impacts of occupational regulation in the EU was conducted using the 2015 European Survey on Regulated Occupations. The aim was to reinforce the evidence base on the economic costs and benefits of occupational regulation.

Study: Measuring prevalence and labour market impacts of occupational regulation in the EU

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Supporting information

Documents

Information on EU websites

Contact points

Assistance centres

  • BELGIË / BELGIQUE

    FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy
    Direction générale Politique des PME - Service Professions intellectuelles et Législation

    North Gate - 4th floor
    Bd du Roi Albert II, 16
    1000 Bruxelles
    BELGIQUE

  • БЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA

    Directorate 'Academic Recognition and Regulated Professions'
    (Assistance Centre for Bulgaria)
    National Center for Information and Documentation /
    Национален център за информация и документация

    52 A, G.M. Dimitrov Blvd.
    1125 София / Sofia
    БЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA

    • Mr Kostadin Tonev, Director: Tel / Тел: +359 2 817 38 62, +359 2 817 38 54
    • Fax / Факс: +359 2 971 31 20
    • Email
    • Website
  • ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA

    Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy
    Centrum pro uznávání odborných kvalifikací
    Oddělení vnější legislativy /
    Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
    Centre for Recognition of Professional Qualifications
    External Legislation Unit

    Karmelitská 529/5
    118 12 Praha 1
    ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA

  • DANMARK

    Ministry of Higher Education and Science
    Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education

    Bredgade 40
    1260 København K
    DANMARK

  • DEUTSCHLAND

    Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BiBB)
    Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
    53113 Bonn
    DEUTSCHLAND

  • EESTI

    Ministry of Education and Research
    Coordinator: Ms Tiia Raudma

    Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centre
    Contact: Mr Vallo Kelder

  • ΕΛΛΑΔΑ / GREECE

    Mr Panayiotis Dimitrakis
    Head
    Independent Department for the Support of SAEP (Council for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications) and for the Application of European Legislation
    General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning and Youth
    Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs

  • HRVATSKA / CROATIA

    Agencija za Znanost i Visoko Obrazovanje
    Agency for Science and Higher Education

    Nacionalni ENIC/NARIC ured
    National ENIC/NARIC office

    Donje Svetice 38/5
    HR-10000 Zagreb
    HRVATSKA / CROATIA

    • Tel: +385 1 6274 888
    • Email
  • ESPAÑA / SPAIN

    Subdirección General de Títulos y Ordenación
    Seguimiento y Gestión de las Enseñanzas Universitarias
    Ministerio de Universidades

    Paseo de la Castellana 162, planta 17
    28046 Madrid
    ESPAÑA / SPAIN

  • FRANCE

    « Guichet Qualifications »
    Service à compétence nationale Guichet Entreprises

    120 rue de Bercy – Télédoc 766
    75572 Paris cedex 12
    FRANCE

  • IRELAND / ÉIRE

    Higher Education Governance & Quality Section
    Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

    52 St Stephen's Green
    Dublin 2
    D02 DR67
    IRELAND / ÉIRE

  • ITALIA

    Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
    Dipartimento Politiche Europee
    Ufficio per il mercato interno, la competitività e gli affari generali
    Servizio per la libera circolazione delle persone, dei servizi, delle merci e dei capitali

    Largo Chigi 19
    00187 ROMA
    ITALIA

    Contact person

    • Ms Giovanna Corrado
    • Ms Lucia Monaco
  • ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS

    Labour Department
    Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance

    9, Klimentos Str.
    CY – 1061 Λευκωσία / Nicosia
    ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS

    Contact person

    • Ms Marilena Pelekanou
      Tel: +357 2240 0845 Fax: +357 2240 0809
      Email
  • LATVIJA

    Academic Information Centre

    Postal address:Vaļņu iela 2
    Rīga, LV-1050
    LATVIJAOffice address:Dzirnavu iela 16, 3rd floor
    Rīga, LV-1010
    LATVIJA

  • LIETUVA

    Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania

    Gedimino ave. 38,
    LT-01104 Vilnius
    LITHUANIA

    Contact persons

    • Ms Sandra Kvaraciejienė
      Coordinator for the recognition of professional qualifications
      Adviser of Talent policy group
      Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
      Tel: +370 689 87970
      Email
       
    • Ms Rasa Balserienė
      Adviser of Talent policy group
      Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
      Tel: +370 862 131328
      Email
       
    • Website 1; website 2
  • LUXEMBOURG

    Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche

    18-20, Montée de la Pétrusse
    L-2327 Luxembourg
    LUXEMBOURG

    Contact person

    • Mr Pierre Misteri
      Email
      Tel: +352 2477 6619
  • MAGYARORSZÁG

    Ms Zsófia Bréda
    Educational Authority
    Hungarian Equivalence and Information Centre

    Szalay utca 10-14
    H-1055 BUDAPEST
    MAGYARORSZÁG / HUNGARY

    • Tel: +36 1 374 2212 (we advise our customers to contact us by email)
    • Email
    • Website
  • MALTA

    National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE)
    Triq Joseph Abela Scolaro, Hamrun HMR 1304 Malta

    • Tel: +356 23 810 100; (+356 25 981 489 during coronavirus emergency)
    • Email
    • Website
  • NEDERLAND

    NUFFIC
    Postbus 29777
    2502 LT Den Haag
    NEDERLAND

  • ÖSTERREICH / AUSTRIA

    Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft / Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy

    Stubenring 1
    1010 Wien
    ÖSTERREICH

    • Tel: +43 1 711 00-805555 (Service Center)
    • Tel: +43 1 71100-805446 (Ms. Irene Linke)
    • Email
    • Website
  • POLSKA

    Ministry of  Education and Science 

    ul. Hoża 20
    PL-00-529 Warszawa

  • PORTUGAL

    Centro de Assistência para as Qualificações Profissionais / Assistance Centre for Professional Qualifications
    DGERT – Direção Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho / General-Directorate for Employment and Labour Relations

    Praça de Londres, n.º 2 - r/c
    1049-056 Lisboa
    PORTUGAL

  • ROMÂNIA

    National Centre for Recognition of Diplomas Granted Abroad/
    Centre National pour la Reconnaissance des Diplômes

    Str. Spiru Haret, nr. 12, Sector 1
    010176 Bucureşti
    ROMÂNIA

    Contact persons

    • Ms Gianina Chirazi
      Director, National Coordinator
      Tel: 004(0)21 405 56 59
      Fax: 004(0)21 317 85 17
      Email
    • Ms Oana-Mihaela Salomia
      Counselor for European Affairs
      Tel: 004(0)21 405 62 15
      Fax: 004(0)21 313 10 13
      Email
  • SLOVENIJA

    Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities / Ministrstvo za delo, družino, socialne zadeve in enake možnosti

    Stukljeva cesta 44
    SI-1000 Ljubljana
    SLOVENIJA
    Tel: +386 1 369 7604

    Contact person

    • Tomaž Kuralt
      Tel: +386 1 369 76 79
      Email
  • SLOVENSKO

    Ministerstvo školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu – Stredisko na uznávanie dokladov o vzdelaní a Odborných kvalifikácií /
    Ministry of education, science, research and sport – Centre of recognition of foreign diplomas and Professional qualifications

    Stromová, 1
    SK - 813 30 Bratislava 1
    SLOVENSKO / SLOVAKIA

  • SUOMI / FINLAND

    Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus)

    PO Box 380
    FI-00531 Helsinki
    SUOMI / FINLAND

  • SVERIGE

    Universitets- och högskolerådet
    The Swedish Council for Higher Education

    Box 45093
    SE-104 30 Stockholm
    SVERIGE

UNITED KINGDOM

Please note that as of 31 December 2020 this information will no longer be updated due to the decision of the UK to leave the EU

The Assistance Centre, ECCTIS Ltd

Suffolk House
68-70 Suffolk Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2ED
UNITED KINGDOM

  • íSLAND

    Mrs Iris Rut Bergmann
    Directorate of Education

    Víkurhvarfi 3
    203 Kópavogi
    ÍSLAND

    • Tel: +354 514 7500
    • Fax: + 354 562 3068
    • Email
  • LIECHTENSTEIN

    Romina Schobel
    EEA Coordination Unit

    Austrasse 79
    9490 Vaduz
    LIECHTENSTEIN

  • NORGE

    Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills

    P.O. Box 1093
    NO-5809 Bergen
    NORWAY

  • SCHWEIZ / SUISSE / SVIZZERA

    National Contact Point for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications

    State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
    Einsteinstrasse 2
    3003 Bern
    SWITZERLAND